NEW YORK--Richard Hunt, a puppeteer who gave life to scores of characters on "Sesame Street," "Fraggle Rock" and "The Muppet Show," died of AIDS on Tuesday at age 40.

To "Sesame Street" fans, he was Don Music, Sully the construction worker and cowboy Forgetful Jones. He also brought to life Gladys the Cow - who possessed a Julia Child-like voice - and opera star Placido Flamingo.

On "The Muppet Show," he was the ever-whining and much dumped-on Beaker, jazz aficionado Janice, Scooter, Statler and Sweetums. Among his roles in the Emmy-winning "Fraggle Rock" was that of the shaggy, lumbering Junior Gorg.

Mr. Hunt also worked on the Jim Henson films "The Muppet Movie," "The Muppets Take Manhattan" and "The Great Muppet Caper."

He appeared, in human form, in the movies "Trading Places" and "Oxford Blues."

Copyright 1992 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

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